How Trump's EPA head has transformed the agency — and sided with polluters

In this episode of Fresh Air, host Terry Gross interviews Pulitzer Prize-winning environmental journalist Elizabeth Colbert about the dramatic transformation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under its new head, Lee Zeldin, appointed by President Trump. Colbert details how Zeldin has dismantled key scientific and regulatory pillars of the EPA, including the Office of Research and Development—once a 1,500-person independent scientific arm—replacing it with a much smaller, centralized office that lacks independence. A central focus of the episode is Zeldin’s effort to rescind the 2007 Supreme Court-mandated endangerment finding that declared carbon dioxide a threat to public health, a move that could effectively eliminate the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Colbert frames this as a deliberate, strategic assault on science and environmental protection, driven by a political agenda that prioritizes fossil fuel interests over public health and climate stability. She highlights how Zeldin’s actions—such as appointing chemical industry lobbyists to key roles, rolling back Biden-era clean energy regulations, and promoting fossil fuel infrastructure—have been implemented rapidly, often ahead of judicial review, with the intent of making changes irreversible. The episode also explores the growing backlash from unexpected quarters, including the 'Maha Moms'—a group of conservative, anti-vaccine activists concerned about toxic chemicals in food and water—who are now criticizing Zeldin for failing to protect children’s health. Colbert warns that these actions are not just policy shifts but part of a broader effort to dismantle science-based governance, with long-term consequences for public health, climate resilience, and America’s global competitiveness in clean energy. Key takeaways include: 1) The EPA’s scientific independence is under severe threat due to the elimination of the Office of Research and Development; 2) The rescission of the endangerment finding could permanently disable the Clean Air Act as a tool for climate regulation; 3) Zeldin’s strategy of moving fast and breaking things is designed to create irreversible damage before courts can intervene; 4) The appointment of industry lobbyists to regulatory roles undermines public trust and scientific integrity; 5) Even conservative allies like the Maha Moms are pushing back, revealing deep contradictions in the administration’s environmental stance; 6) The long-term economic and health costs of inaction on climate change far outweigh short-term savings claimed by deregulation; 7) The Trump administration’s broader assault on science extends beyond the EPA to agencies like the National Science Foundation; 8) The fossil fuel industry is receiving unprecedented support, including canceled clean energy projects and taxpayer-funded offshore wind lease buybacks, while clean energy innovation is being stifled.